Capsule feeding apparatus for beverage vending machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to an apparatus ( 1 ) for feeding capsules ( 4 ), preferably single-use capsules for the preparation of beverages, infusions and the like, for beverage vending machines. The apparatus of the invention comprises a storage chamber ( 2, 22 ) for storing capsules ( 4 ) in a random arrangement, pick-up means ( 10, 210 ) for picking up said capsules ( 4 ), a capsule transfer device ( 13, 213 ) provided with one or more compartments ( 14, 214 ) for said capsules ( 4 ), at least an unloading conveyor ( 19, 219 ) for unloading said capsules ( 4 ). The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that, between the storage chamber ( 2, 22 ) and said at least an unloading conveyor ( 19, 219 ), the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a first orientating device ( 8, 28 ), which is adapted to orientate the capsules ( 4 ) according to at least a substantially horizontal-axis position, and a second orientating device ( 20, 220 ) which is adapted to arrange the capsules ( 4 ) according to a same vertical-axis position.

The present invention refers to an apparatus for feeding capsules, inparticular single-use capsules for the preparation of beverages,infusions and the like, for beverage vending machines.

In the following description, the term “capsule” is used to mean shellsor envelopes in the shape of a cylinder or a frustum of cone, providedwith an annular edge.

At the present time, owing to a number of hygienic, convenience andefficiency reasons the use is spreading rapidly in beverage vendingmachines of so-called pre-packed, ready-to-use, single-portiondisposable capsules, which contain a liquid or solid mixture for thepreparation of hot/and/or cold beverages, such as coffee, tea,infusions, tisanes and the like.

In the practical operation of the beverage vending machines that makeuse of such single-use capsules, the need arises for said capsules to bewithdrawn one at a time from the compartment in which they are stored,and to be then conveyed towards the brewing unit which, upon havinggained access to the contents of the capsule, goes through the beveragepreparation process. Since these capsules generally are in a not fullysymmetrical shape, or have one or more preferential opening directions,it is a largely known fact that their arrangement in the storagecompartments provided in the vending machine must be carried out in sucha manner as to ensure that the capsules are since the beginning alreadysuitably oriented in view of the conveyance and beverage preparationoperations that have to take place subsequently. In currently usedvending machines, the conveyance systems used foe such single-usecapsules require that these be stored inside the machine in the form ofsuitably pre-arranged stacks, i.e. stacks that are pre-packed and readyfor loading as such into the appropriate storage compartment in thevending machine. It can be readily appreciated that these stacks ofcapsules must actually be specially pre-packed not only according to aparticular preferential orientation, but also by keeping the dimensionsof the storage compartment available in the particular model of vendingmachine into due account. When the single-use capsules are not availablein the form of pre-packed stacks, or when the feeding apparatus does notallow for such stacks to be used, the capsule stacking procedure must becompleted manually on the spot by the servicing operators themselves,under corresponding lengthening of the time required for completing theservicing operations for replenishing the vending machine. Furthermore,this makes it quite likely that errors are made in positioning thecapsules, which could cause the vending machine to get jammed and, as aresult, the owner of the vending installation to suffer an economicloss.

It therefore is the object of the present invention to provide a capsulefeeding apparatus, in particular for feeding single-use capsules for thepreparation of beverages, infusions and the like, for beverage machines,which does away with the drawbacks and the disadvantages of prior-artcapsule conveyance systems.

Within this general object, it is a purpose of the present invention toprovide a capsule feeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, whichis such as to enable capsules to be picked up, conveyed and orientedautomatically, which have been stored in a compartment loosely, i.e. inno pre-established order.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a capsule feedingapparatus for beverage vending machines, which is capable of effectivelyperforming such a picking up, conveyance and orientation of the capsuleswithin an extremely reduced space.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a capsulefeeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, which is low in itsspace requirements, i.e. compact in its construction.

It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a capsulefeeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, which allows forcapsules to be withdrawn in a discontinuous manner from a compartment inwhich they are oriented randomly, and to be then conveyed in acontinuous manner, and with a pre-established orientation, towards atleast an unloading conveyor.

A further purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a capsulefeeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, which enables theprocedure needed to fill the capsules into the storage chamber thereofto be simplified, without requiring any particular pre-orientationoperation to be performed.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a capsulefeeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, which does not allowfor any kind of errors in the orientation of the capsules.

Finally, an equally important purpose of the present invention is toprovide a capsule feeding apparatus for beverage vending machines, whichis capable of picking, conveying and orienting the capsules by makinguse of the force of gravity.

According to the present invention, these aims are reached in a capsulefeeding apparatus for beverage vending machines incorporating thefeatures and characteristics as recited in the appended claim 1.Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway be morereadily understood from the description that is given below by way ofnon-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of thecapsule feeding apparatus for beverage vending machines according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the capsule displacement device and theunloading conveyor of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of thecapsule feeding apparatus for beverage vending machines according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 4, asillustrated in the assembled condition thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the body comprised in the apparatus of FIG.4, as occupied by the capsules;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the secondorientation device used in the apparatus of FIG. 4, as occupied bycapsules oriented in opposite directions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the capsule feeding apparatus 1for beverage vending machines according to the present invention. Thisfirst embodiment of the apparatus comprises a storage chamber 2comprised between conveying means 3 that are preferably constituted by ahopper being preferably circular in its cross-section. Inside saidstorage chamber 2 there are stored the capsules 4, in which saidcapsules are preferably single-use capsules for the preparation ofbeverages, infusions and the like. The manner in which the capsules 4come to be arranged in the chamber 2 is by all means casual, noparticular scheme or method being actually required, according to thepresent invention, for filling and arranging the capsules in the chamber2. In view of favouring the downward conveyance of the capsules 4contained in the storage chamber 2, the apparatus 1 comprises pick-upmeans 10, which are preferably constituted by a moving conical memberdriven, for instance, by an electric motor (not shown). The movementsthat said pick-up means 10 are capable of performing are, for instance,vibratory, translatory, rotary, reciprocating motions or any combinationthereof. The action of said means 10 favours the storage chamber 2 to beemptied in such a manner as to ensure that the capsules 4 that havefirst been loaded in the chamber are actually the first ones to beconveyed downwards.

Close to the lower portion of the conveying means 3 there is arranged afirst orientating device 8, which enables the capsules 4 to be arrangedin such a posture as to cause the longitudinal axis thereof to becomesubstantially horizontal. Said first orientating device 8 is constitutedby a first member 9 and a second member 11. Said first member 9 isadvantageously provided with dividing elements 5 which, owing to theirdisposition, define a plurality of open cavities 6, each one of which isable to accommodate one or more capsules 4. One of these cavities, asindicated at 6′ in FIG. 1, is blind and the capsules 4 have nopossibility of reaching into it. The purpose to which such a blindcavity 6′ is provided will be apparent from the description that isgiven further below.

The cavities 6 are substantially sized so as to ensure that the capsules4 are able to only enter them in one of a limited number of possibleorientations, and in particular in an orientation that would certainlyenable the longitudinal axis thereof to take a substantially horizontalposition. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the dividing elements5 are constituted by a plurality of partitions provided inside a hopperthat acts as the conveying means 3. In the example illustrated in FIG.1, the cavities 6 are obtained by arranging the above-cited partitionsin radial directions so as to define sectors of a circle, which are onlyaccessible to the capsules 4 when said capsules are arranged with theupper surface 7 thereof turned in a position facing the longitudinalaxis of the apparatus 1 or opposite thereto. The upper surface 7 is theone near which the annular edge, i.e. the rim of the capsule comes tolie.

The second member 11 which the orientating device 8 is comprised of, isa moving one and comprises a plurality of first apertures 12 thatreplicate the peripheral shape of at least a section of the capsules 4.In this manner, owing to the effect of the force of gravity and theagitation brought about by the pick-up means 10, the capsules 4 leavethe cavities 6 of the first member 9 and interact with the second member11 and, in particular, the first apertures 12 thereof. Depending on theshapes replicated by said first apertures 12 and the distributionthereof in the second member 11, the latter, with its motion, organizesthe spatial arrangement of the capsules 4 coming from the cavities 6.The second member 11 preferably acts on more than a single one of saidcapsules. The capsules 4 pass through the first apertures 12 solely inthe case that their conformation and their orientation agree with theones that are replicated by each one of said first apertures 12. Saidfirst apertures 12 are preferably arranged alternately with anorientation that varies from each other. FIG. 1 can be noticed toillustrate a second member 11 and a possible arrangement of the firstapertures 12 thereof that corresponds to what has been described above.It should be specially stressed that the number of the orientationsreplicated by the peripheral shapes of the first apertures 12 is equalto the number of the possible orientations that the capsules 4 can havefor them to be able to enter the cavities 6. The movement that thesecond member 11 may perform is preferably, although not solely, arotary motion about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1.

In a position located below the first orientating device 8, theapparatus 1 according to the present invention comprises a movingtransfer device 13, which is provided with one or more compartments 14receiving and accommodating the capsules 4 as oriented and arranged inan organized manner by the first orientating device 8. Said compartments14 are provided in a position facing the first apertures 12. Such aposition remains always constant, since the motion performed by thetransfer device 13 is a synchronous, and preferably rotary, one relativeto the motion performed by the second member 11. The transfer device 13is preferably driven independently of the pick-up means 10; if desired,however, these two items may also be driven by a same means.

As this can be clearly seen in FIG. 1, the transfer device 13 ispreferably comprised of a plate in a substantially circular shape. Thecompartments 14 include stop means 16 that enable the movements of thecapsules 4 to be appropriately limited, when the latter, as pushed bythe force of gravity, pass through the first apertures 12 and drop intoaccommodation in the compartments 14. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3, the stop means 16 may advantageously be constituted by appropriateslots, which are able to be engaged by at least a portion of each one ofsaid capsules 4. It will anyway be readily appreciated that the stopmeans 16 may also be implemented according to other knownconfigurations, as far as they still prove effective in interacting withthe conformation of the capsules 4 in an optimal manner.

The transfer device 13 is also provided with second apertures 15, whichenable the differently oriented capsules 4 contained in the compartments14 to pass therethrough and leave the device. Anyway, such an issuanceof the capsules 4 can only take place when the second apertures 15,owing to the movement of the transfer device 13, come to be situated ina position facing directly a third aperture 17 provided in a stationarybase 18. Below this third aperture 17 there is arranged at least anunloading conveyor 19 (FIG. 3) that is adapted to collect one or morecapsules 4 and hold them there temporarily until it is required toconvey them towards, for instance, a brewing unit (not shown in theFigures). In this way, the conveyance of the capsules 4 occurs in acontinuous manner.

When one of said second apertures 15 comes to be situated in a positionfacing the third aperture 17, this practically creates a gap thatextends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1, startingfrom the blind cavity 6′ and up to the unloading conveyor 19. Such ablind cavity 6′ ensures that, when the capsules 4 leave the compartments14, there is a physical separation between the storage chamber 2 and theunloading conveyor 19, so that the capsules 4 still held in the storagechamber 2 will not drop by gravity towards the unloading conveyor 19.For reasons of greater simplicity, in FIGS. 1 and 3 there is illustratedan apparatus 1 that has just a single unloading conveyor 19, as well asa base 18 that is provided with just a single one of said thirdapertures 17, although it can be readily appreciated by all thoseskilled in the art that the same apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3 may according to the present invention be provided with more than oneof said third apertures 17 and more than just a single unloadingconveyor 19, depending on the particular needs and circumstances.

Prior to the capsules 4 entering the unloading conveyor 19, a secondorientating device 20, which is arranged between the first orientatingdevice 8 and the unloading conveyor 19 itself, is effective in modifyingthe orientation of the capsules 4 so as to ensure that all of them enterthe unloading conveyor 19 according to a same orientation andarrangement, in which the longitudinal axis thereof is substantiallyvertical. In particular, it is preferable that the upper surface 7 ofthe capsules 4 is facing upwards. This second orientating device 20performs such a variation in the orientation of the capsules 4 by takingadvantage of the force of gravity. In a preferred manner, the capsules 4are turned by an angle of approximately 90°. In FIG. 2, which is alongitudinal-sectional view of a first embodiment of the apparatus 1 inthe assembled configuration thereof, there can be noticed one of thevarious possible ways, all of them falling within the scope of thepresent invention, in which said second orientating device 20 acts tomodify the orientation of the capsules 4. When one of the compartments14 containing a respective one of the capsules 4 reaches a positionfacing the third aperture 17 owing to the movement performed by thetransfer device 13, the second orientating device 20, which isconstituted by a snap mechanism in this first embodiment of theapparatus of the invention, raises, as driven by the same movement ofthe transfer device 13, thereby allowing each individual capsule to tipover due to its own weight. The positions taken by each individualcapsule when overturning before reaching the entrance to the unloadingconveyor 19 are illustrated in FIG. 2. The stop means 16, further tolimiting the movement of the capsules 4 within the compartments 14 asdescribed above, may act as a centre of rotation for the capsules beingdropped. In this first embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the invention,the variation in the orientation of the capsules 4 takes fully placewithin the compartments 14, so as to enable the capsules 4 themselves toreach the unloading conveyor 19 with the desired orientation. In thecase where more than a single third aperture 17 and more than a singleunloading conveyor 19 are provided, it can be readily appreciated thatmore than a single second orientating device 20 may as well be providedaccordingly.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the apparatus 1 for feedingcapsules 4 in beverage vending machines according to the presentinvention. Even in this second embodiment thereof, the apparatus 1comprises a storage chamber 22 included within conveying means 23 forholding the capsules 4 in a random arrangement. The downward conveyanceof the capsules 4 stored in said chamber 22 is facilitated by pick-upmeans 210 that are preferably driven by an electric motor (not shown)via the shaft 222. The action of such means 210 favours the storagechamber 22 to be emptied in such a manner as to ensure that the capsules4 that have first been loaded in the chamber are actually the first onesto be conveyed downwards.

Close to the lower portion of the conveying means 23 there is arranged afirst orientating device 28, which enables the capsules 4 to be arrangedin such a posture as to cause the longitudinal axis thereof to becomesubstantially horizontal. Even in this second embodiment of theapparatus, the first orientating device 28 is constituted by a firstmember 29 and a second member 211. Said first member 29 is even in thissecond embodiment advantageously provided with dividing elements 25defining a plurality of open cavities 26, each one of which is able toaccommodate one or more capsules 4. One of these cavities, as indicatedat 26′ in FIG. 4, is blind and the capsules 4 held in the chamber 22have no possibility of reaching into it. As far as these dividingelements 25 and the plurality of cavities 26 are concerned, the sameconsiderations apply in this case as the ones that have been previouslyset forth in connection with the dividing elements 5 and the pluralityof cavities 6 of the first embodiment regarding the shapes, the sizingand the interaction thereof with the capsules 4.

In this second embodiment, the first orientating device 28 comprises asecond member 211 which is integrated in the transfer device 213 so asto form a single body 221 therewith, which enables the capsules 4 to benot only oriented and organized in the spatial arrangement thereof, butalso transferred at the same time. The second member 211 comprises aplurality of first apertures 212 and the transfer device 213 comprisessecond apertures 215. Between said first and said second apertures 212,215 there are comprised one or more compartments 214; in particular,each one of said first and said second apertures 212, 215 is situated atthe upper and lower extremity of each compartment 214, respectively. Thefirst apertures 212 enable the capsules 4 coming from the cavities 26 toundergo a first orientation, so that the longitudinal axis thereof isbrought into a substantially horizontal position, whereas the secondapertures 215 enable the capsules 4 to leave, i.e. to be released fromthe body 221. The body 221 itself is movable with a preferably, althoughnot solely rotary motion about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1.In addition, even in this second embodiment, the transfer device 213and, accordingly, the whole body 221 are preferably driven independentlyof the pick-up means 210.

The first and the second apertures 212, 215, as well as the compartments214, have the same characteristics as the ones that have been describedpreviously in connection with the first and the second apertures 12, 15and the compartments 14 of the first embodiment, as far as the shape,arrangement and interaction thereof with the capsules 4 are concerned. Atop plan view of the body 221 as occupied by the capsules 4 isillustrated in FIG. 6.

Similarly to what has been described previously in connection with thefirst embodiment, in this second embodiment the capsules 4 are onlyallowed to drop from and leave the body 221 when the second apertures215 come to be situated, owing to the movement of the body 221, in aposition facing directly a third aperture 217 provided in a stationarybase 218. When the above-cited apertures 215 and 217 come to be situatedin a position facing each other, this practically creates a gap thatextends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1, startingfrom the blind cavity 26′ and up to the unloading conveyor 219. Such ablind cavity 26′ ensures that, when the capsules 4 leave the body 221,there is a physical separation created between the storage chamber 22and the unloading conveyor 219, so that the capsules 4 still held in thestorage chamber 22 will not drop by gravity towards the unloadingconveyor 219. Even in this case, a second orientating device 220 isprovided to modify the orientation of the capsules 4 so as to ensurethat all of them enter the unloading conveyor 219 according to a sameorientation and arrangement, in which the longitudinal axis thereof issubstantially vertical.

A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of theapparatus 1 in the assembled configuration thereof is shown in FIG. 5.

Owing to the particular conformation thereof, the second orientatingdevice 220, which is situated between the first orientating device 28and the unloading conveyor 219 itself, is capable of modifying thenatural trajectory that the capsule 4 follow in dropping freely by theeffect of the force of gravity. A possible configuration of this secondorientating device 220 is best illustrated in FIG. 7, in which it can benoticed that it is constituted by a pair of guide profiles 223, 224 thatare engaged by a portion of the capsules 4. These profiles 223 and 224diverge away symmetrically in two directions, thereby defining aprism-shaped structure having an approximately triangular cross-section,as well as a slot-like aperture 225 in which the capsules 4 are able toslide. This slot-like aperture 225 widens out symmetrically at its endportions 226 and 227, so that the capsules 4, when encountering said endportions 226 and 227 in their descending trajectory, eventually find apoint or a surface about which they are able to rotate, thereby varyingtheir orientation by an angle of approximately 90° and providing in thisway, at the entrance to the unloading conveyor 219, capsules that arepreferably oriented with their upper surface 7 facing upwards.

The directions in which said guide profile 223 and 224 diverge are suchas to enable the capsules 4 reaching the second orientation device 220with mutually differing orientations to be oriented in a single and samedirection. FIG. 7 illustrates the various phases which the differentlyoriented capsules 4 go through to change their orientation.

Even in the case of this second embodiment of the apparatus 1 of thepresent invention, where more than a single third aperture 217 and morethan a single unloading conveyor 219 are provided, it can be readilyappreciated that more than a single second orientating device 220 may aswell be provided accordingly.

Fully apparent from the above description is therefore the ability ofthe the present invention to effectively reach the afore cited aims andadvantages by providing a capsule feeding apparatus for beverage vendingmachines, which is such as to enable capsules to be picked up, conveyedand oriented automatically, which have been stored in a compartmentloosely, i.e. in no pre-established order, wherein no particularoperations is actually required for pre-orienting said capsules whenloaded in the storage chamber. Fully apparent is also the fact that theapparatus according to the present invention is capable of picking up,conveying and orienting the capsules by taking advantage of the force ofgravity, while requiring just a small space to perform these tasksthereof, the apparatus itself being of an extremely compact size andtaking up just a little space in the vending machine. Fully apparentfrom the above description is finally the ability of the apparatusaccording to the present invention to enable capsules to be withdrawn ina discontinuous manner from the storage chamber and to be then conveyedin a continuous manner, and with a pre-established orientation, towardsat least an unloading conveyor, wherein said same apparatus does notgive rise to any kind of errors in the orientation of the capsules.

It should be noticed that the materials used, as well as the shapes andthe sizing of the individual items of the apparatus of the invention,may each time be selected so as to more appropriately meet theparticular requirements or suit the particular application.

The various items and parts entering the construction of the apparatusof the present invention shall of course not be embodied strictly andsolely in the manner that has been descriobed and illustratyed above,but can rather be implemented in a number of different embodiments, allof which falling within the scope of the present invention. So, forinstance, the apparatus may include electronic control system of anykind known as such, which would constantly monitor it for correctoperation by detecting, for example, early jamming situations and/ornon-consistent capsules. In the same way, the apparatus according to thepresent invention may include electronic systems to govern the movementand/or the correct interaction of the various parts making up the sameapparatus.

1. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinescomprising: a storage chamber (2, 22) adapted to hold said capsules (4)in a random arrangement; pick-up means (10, 210) for picking up saidcapsules (4); a capsule transfer device (13, 213) provided with one ormore compartments (14, 214) for said capsules (4); at least an unloadingconveyor (19, 219) for unloading said capsules (4); characterized inthat, between said storage chamber (2, 22) and said at least anunloading conveyor (19, 219), said apparatus (1) comprises: a firstorientating device (8, 28), which is adapted to orientate the capsules(4) according to at least a substantially horizontal-axis position, anda second orientating device (20, 220), which is adapted to arrange thecapsules (4) according to a same vertical-axis position.
 2. Apparatus(1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machines according toclaim 1, characterized in that said first orientating device (8, 28) isprovided close to the lower portion of said storage chamber (2, 22). 3.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said first orientatingdevice (8, 28) comprises a first member (9, 29) provided with aplurality of dividing elements (5, 25) defining a plurality of opencavities (6, 26), each one of which is capable of accommodating one ormore of said capsules (4), and a second member (11, 211) comprising aplurality of first apertures (12, 212) arranged in a position facingsaid one or more compartments (14, 214).
 4. Apparatus (1) for feedingcapsules (4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 3,characterized in that said first apertures (12, 212) replicate theperipheral contour of at least a section of said capsules (4). 5.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 3, characterized in that said plurality of cavities(6, 26) are adapted to accommodate said one or more capsules (4)arranged in a number of orientations that is equal to the number ofperipheral contours replicated by said first apertures (12, 212). 6.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 3, characterized in that said first apertures (12,212) are arranged alternately with an orientation that varies from eachother.
 7. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vendingmachines according to any of the preceding claims or combinationthereof, characterized in that said second member (11, 211) and saidtransfer device (13, 213) move with a synchronous rotary motion. 8.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said second member (11, 211)and said transfer device (13, 213) are each constituted by a plate in asubstantially circular shape.
 9. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4)in beverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid second member (11, 211) is able to select more than one of saidcapsules (4) at the same time.
 10. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules(4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized inthat said transfer device (13, 213) comprises one or more secondapertures (15, 215).
 11. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) inbeverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid pick-up means (10, 210) and said transfer device (13, 213) aredriven independently of each other.
 12. Apparatus (1) for feedingcapsules (4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 1,characterized in that it comprises a stationary base (18, 218) providedwith at least a third aperture (17, 217) situated in a position facingsaid at least an unloading conveyor (19, 219).
 13. Apparatus (1) forfeeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 1,characterized in that said second orientating device (20, 220) causessaid capsules (4) to rotate by an angle of approximately 90°. 14.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 13, characterized in that said rotation of saidcapsules (4) takes place within at least one of said one or morecompartments (14) of said transfer device (13).
 15. Apparatus (1) forfeeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 1,characterized in that said second orientating device (20) is constitutedby a snap-acting mechanism.
 16. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4)in beverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid one or more compartments (14) for accommodating said capsules (4)comprise stop means (16) adapted to limit the movement of said capsules(4).
 17. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vendingmachines according to claim 16, characterized in that said stop means(16) acts as the centre of rotation of said capsules (4).
 18. Apparatus(1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machines according toany of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized inthat said second orientating device (20) is actuated by the movement ofsaid transfer device (13).
 19. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) inbeverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid second member (211) and said transfer device (213) form a singlebody (221).
 20. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beveragevending machines according claim 1, characterized in that said secondorientating device (220) interacts with at least one of said capsules(4) to modify the natural falling trajectory thereof as determined bythe force of gravity.
 21. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) inbeverage vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid second orientating device (220) is constituted by a pair of guideprofiles (223, 224) that are engaged by a portion of said capsules (4).22. Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 21, characterized in that said pair of guide profiles(223, 224) define a slot-like aperture (225).
 23. Apparatus (1) forfeeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machines according to claim 21,characterized in that said pair of guide profiles (223, 224) divergeaway symmetrically in two directions, thereby defining a prism-shapedstructure having an approximately triangular cross-section. 24.Apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4) in beverage vending machinesaccording to claim 1, characterized by what has been described andillustrated in and with reference to the accompanying drawings.